Following the success of Animation Day 2022, Film Hub North returns with Animation Week 2023.
Film Hub North is excited to announce a new programme of online panels, mixers, and 1-2-1s to support the ever-growing animation community in the North of England. Designed in consultation with industry experts, leading practitioners in the Northern animation space and participants from Animation Day 2022, Animation Week looks to further people’s understanding, connections and knowledge in the animation sector. This free series of events will be happening from 6 - 10 March 2023.
Throughout the week we’ll be hearing from guests including BBC, Tiger Aspect, Manchester Animation Fest and Kaboom Animation Festival, and the creatives behind projects such as Woodland and Salvation Has No Name. Whether you’re an established creator already working in animation or a filmmaker with no animation experience looking to explore working in this space, this programme of activities is free to attend and open to all.
Check out some of what you can expect from Animation Week below.
ANIMATION MIXER
We'll be kicking off our Animation week with a healthy dose of networking. Bringing together representatives from several Northern Animation houses to talk shop with Northern creatives. A chance to meet the faces behind the region's award winning independent production companies.
Brought to you in partnership with Manchester Animation Festival, who will give you an intro what the animation festivals look for when programming and how to get on their radar.
Monday, 6 March. 6.00 - 8.00pm.
SEX AND SEXUALITY IN ANIMATION
How can animation be a way of tackling the big issues we face in society? A discussion between programmers, critics and filmmakers pushing boundaries and reframing gender stereotypes in the animation space. Featuring Jennifer Coates, Professor of Japanese Studies at the School of East Asian Studies, University of Sheffield; Maarten van Gageldonk, Head of Program at Kaboom Festival, Netherlands; and Writer/Director Phil Wall (Charm Offensive, Woodland).
Tuesday, 7 March. 2.00 - 3.00pm.
TALENT EXEC 1-2-1's
Animators based in the North of England can book a 30min, 1-2-1 meeting with BFI NETWORK Talent Executives Roxy McKenna and Ben Taylor to discuss their early-stage feature or short film ideas. The Talent Executive will talk about your project and how our talent development programmes and funding can help advance your idea. Places can be booked via Calendly.
Wednesday, 8 March. 11.00am - 2.00pm | Roxy McKenna | SOLD OUT
Thursday, 9 March. 10.00am - 1.00pm | Ben Taylor | SOLD OUT
BFI NETWORK ANIMATION CASE STUDY: SALVATION HAS NO NAME
BAFTA Cymru nominated writer and director Joseph Wallace and Producer Loran Dunn are the creative team behind 2022’s festival run away animated success Salvation Has No Name. A sixteen minute stop motion animated short. Told through a dynamic mixture of colour and black with a dramatic narrative and international all-female voice cast, ‘Salvation Has No Name’ is a unique animated film which explores themes of xenophobia and the refugee crisis.
We’ll be talking to Loran and Joseph all about the journey of the film from development, production through to distribution and what’s next.
Thursday, 9 March. 2.00pm - 3.00pm.
ANIMATION INDUSTRY FORUM
The shape of funding for animation continues to shift with opportunities opening up in both the broadcast and film landscape for animation aimed at both children and adults. Panellists from TV commissioning, streaming and cultural funding come together to discuss the finance available for animation, what audiences are gravitating to, slots in the schedule for projects and how they are adapting to the needs of animation production.
Featuring Jo Allen, Commissioning Executive for CBBC and Tom Beattie, MD at Tiger Aspect Kids & Family. More speakers to be announced soon.
Friday, 10 March. 5.30pm - 6.30pm.
Image credit: BFI NETWORK funded short, Woodland directed by James Lawson and Phil Wall
